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PREP TENNIS: Sandpoint clinches regular season conference title

MAX OSWALD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 months AGO
by MAX OSWALD
I grew up in the small town of Orwigsburg, Pa., where I resided all of my life before moving to Sandpoint. I attended Blue Mountain High School, where I participated in cross country and track and field, a sport that I ended up falling in love with. I went on to attend and run for DeSales University (with other brief stints at Susquehanna University and Elizabethtown College) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport communication with a minor in sport management. I remember just how great it made me feel when I was mentioned in my hometown newspaper. I want to be able to give that feeling to every athlete in Bonner County, no matter how big or small their accomplishments are. As an athlete myself, I know how many hours of work are put in on a daily basis, and that hard work deserves to be recognized. It is my goal to cover as much of the Bulldogs, Spartans and Wampus Cats as I can. I want to work with every athlete, parent, coach, administrator and the community to ensure the best stories are published. | May 3, 2024 1:45 PM

— Extended Recap

SANDPOINT — Sandpoint swept in girls singles and doubles, boys doubles, and mixed doubles to defeat the Bears and clinch the 4A Inland Empire regular season title on Thursday at Travers Park.

“We were firing on all cylinders,” head coach Kent Anderson said. 

The girls singles lineup was especially dominant, giving up a total of just three games.

“Pepper (Rickert), Neva (Reseska) and Bella (Bailey) were basically flawless using pinpoint placement, great court coverage and powerful serves.”

In girls doubles, Moscow fielded a strong doubles lineup, but was no match for the Bulldogs. Duos Sydney Webb and Aubrey Knowles and Mya Vorhies and Lily Evans both picked up wins; Vorhies and Evans’ match was the only one that went to three sets on the day, and the pair finally pulled out a win after a two-hour long battle.

In boys singles, all three matches were hotly contested. In the No. 1 spot, Jacob Dawson, after winning his first set, came back from a 4-1 deficit in the second to capture a victory. 

“Jacob was able to regroup and return to strong, fundamental tennis as he reeled off five straight games to win an impressive 6-4 match,” Anderson said.

Matthew Norton used his trademark solid ground strokes to overpower his opponent in the No. 2 spot. Anderson said when he is "shaping the ball" the way he was Thursday, there’s not a lot his opponents can do offensively. 

In mixed doubles, Anderson said Noah Spinney was moving especially well at the net, putting away balls, which were set up by Berkeley Cox’s "crushing groundies." The two dominated in the second set en route to victory.

In the No. 2 spot, Ellie Tutin and Brennan Johnson played their second match together and pulled out a tough win. 

“Ellie is playing so fundamentally solid and her scorching cross court game gives the opponents very little to work with,” Anderson said. “Brennan hits with pure power, keeping opponents from hitting off their back foot. Both mixed teams prevailing in straight set is not an easy thing to do against Moscow. We’ll face Moscow’s lineup in a week at the district championships. I know they’ll be gunning for us but we’ll be ready … as always.”

Sandpoint will host Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy on Monday.

Sandpoint 11, Moscow 1

BOYS SINGLES — No. 1 Jacob Dawson, SPT, d. Wyatt Thornycroft, 7-5, 6-4. No. 2 Matthew Norton, SPT, d. Jack Landis, by default. No. 3 Andrew Elder, MOS, d. Noah Wagner, 6-3, 7-6.

GIRLS SINGLES — No. 1 Pepper Rickert, SPT, d. Cate Gloeckner, 6-0, 6-0. No. 2 Neva Reseska, SPT, d. Natalie Godfrey, 6-0, 6-1. No. 3 Bella Bailey, SPT, d. Jacquee Williams, 6-2, 6-0.

BOYS DOUBLES — No. 1 Ethan Ballard/Nathan Duke, SPT, d. Tanner Fealy/Jerry Balembah, 6-0, 6-3. No. 2 Caden Martz/Fisher Dail, SPT, d. Eli Ting/Ty Kindelspire, by default.

GIRLS DOUBLES — No. 1 Sydney Webb/Aubrey Knowles, SPT, d. Abbie Duke/Millie Richards, 6-1, 6-4. No. 2 Lily Evans/Mya Vorhies, SPT, d.Alyssa Halvorson/Petra Kennedy, 6-2, 3-6, 10-6.

MIXED DOUBLES — No. 1 Berkeley Cox/Noah Spinney, SPT, d. Nick Odberg/Audrey Pollard, 7-5, 6-1. No. 2 Elly Tutin/Brennan Johnson, SPT, d. Hayden Wilson, Ben Nuhn, 6-4, 6-3.

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